35 under 35
Alma Hidalgo-Blankinship Delta Omega - Fort Hays State University
Senior Program Manager, Rudd Foundation
Which of the Delta Zeta shared values resonates with you the most? Belonging
How did you discover your passion for what you do, and what opportunities have helped shape your career?
My passion for higher education started when one of my FHSU mentors nominated me to be an orientation leader. That was the beginning of my journey into higher education. This was the first time that I realized I could do this as a career and become the guide/mentor for future students that I did not have when I started my college journey. Taking that first step and getting involved as an orientation leader, joining Delta Zeta and other student organizations gave me the experience and opportunity to give back and pursue my passion for higher education. Since my undergraduate years through today, I have taken those small opportunities to volunteer, present and mentor students with the hopes of helping someone in the smallest of ways.
Who has been an invaluable mentor for your professional career? What did you learn from them?
If I had to select one person, it would be Brett Bruner. He came to FHSU at the end of my undergraduate career and instantly became someone who I could go to for anything. He always makes time for his students, and even now that I am in my career, I can send him an email, and he is always there. I’ve learned so much from Brett about being a higher education professional, a mentor, a support system for students and so much more. He always tells me that there is always something new to learn because our students and their experiences are everchanging, and we need to make sure we do our due diligence to be prepared to support them the best possible way we can.
What words of wisdom or advice do you live by?
When thinking of this question, I kept coming back to the Prayer of St. Francis. I strive to live my life through this prayer daily, and the line that speaks to me most is “For it is in giving that we receive.” I truly believe that in helping others, we become richer in life, but not in a monetary way but rather in a way where our souls are fulfilled. I have been very lucky to be surrounded by individuals that have poured into me and my success, especially being someone who was an immigrant and going through the struggles of the immigration system. Regardless of my struggles with my status, I have persevered and have never given up on chasing my dreams of an education and a career. Being the first in my family to attend college, graduate and attain a master’s degree, I feel beyond blessed to be where I am today.
What is the most impactful book you have read, or podcast you have listened to, that relates to you professionally? What made it so impactful?
At the end of 2023 I read a book called ”The Rocking Chair Prophet.” This book talked a lot about how in today’s society, we live such a fast-paced life that we don’t take the time to step back and truly live in the moment. It also talks about the experiences in our lives that we go through and the blessings that are hidden within whether these experiences are positive or negative. Understanding that there is something to learn from every experience that we go through, and how we can use those experiences to help ourselves but also those around us. This book not only related to me personally but also professionally. The work that I do is very much based on my personal relationships with my students and supporting them as individuals and not just students. This book allowed me to reflect on my personal experience as a first-generation student and the struggles that I have gone through to get to where I am and how those experiences have given me the ability to relate on a more personal level with my students.
How do you make sure you stay connected with your professional network?
I have been a member of several national organizations that are within the higher education world: Delta Zeta, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), Kansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (KACRAO) and National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA). I continue to keep my memberships with these organization active and participate in both virtual and in-person events, along with actively reading articles and relevant material throughout the year. There are also online platforms that I participate in, where there is collaboration with other higher education professionals. I also participate in any professional development opportunities locally and through our four partnering universities.
How have friendships helped you professionally? Is there a friend (or Delta Zeta sister) that has been behind you every step of the way on your career journey?
The relationships I have made throughout my college experience and into my professional career have been so important and continue to be to this day. I have friends and mentors who have been with me since my undergraduate career through Delta Zeta and higher education. These relationships have helped push me in my career, but most importantly it has given me a community of supportive individuals that I can rely and fall back on for support both professionally and personally. I am very lucky to say that Delta Zeta gave me the best friend I didn’t know I needed. Holly Weiss and I have been best friends since we pledged Delta Zeta in 2009, and have supported each other throughout our collegiate years and professional careers. She is someone who has helped me see my potential as a leader, a Latina professional and as an individual. Holly is also in higher education, and it has been wonderful to share my passion of higher education with her.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I am guilty of having too many hobbies. I am a freelance graphic designer, a pyrography artist and have recently started to learn how to paint porcelain. My husband’s grandmother was a china painter for close to 40 years, and she introduced me to this.